The Kinda Chic-ification of Everything
By Milena Lyons
Cue “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton
Suddenly, living on campus, being underdressed in Dyson, eating at the dining hall alone, and being excited to see fall in the Hudson Valley all have one thing in common. They’re kinda chic.
It has quickly flooded TikTok and Instagram. What started as a relatively simple social media trend became a way to describe basically anything and everything. By the end of summer 2026, everything became “kinda chic.”
Although it is not known who began this trend, it started around April 2026 on Instagram and quickly took off around July to August 2026 on TikTok. The beginning of this trend was more focused on body positivity and personal growth but quickly began to encapsulate a whole lot more. It became kinda chic to drive an old car, remodel your kitchen, not care what people think, work for an airline, go against the crowd, do things alone, love fall, be overdressed for every occasion, or even be well-educated.
That is exactly what made this trend so easy to participate in. There are no rules for what applies.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “chic” as “following the current fashion or style: fashionable and appealing.” But this trend has very little to do with traditional fashion. Instead, TikTok users have turned “chic” into something relatable, personal or even completely random.
The format to participate is also extremely simple, with no professional camera, perfect lighting, or editing necessary. All someone needed was their phone, a photo or short video of themselves, and the signature yellow text over it starting with “kinda chic to…” Immediately, the posts began to make everyday life feel worthy of sharing.
And maybe that is the whole point. There is something validating about being able to take a boring part of your life that might not be your favorite and decide that it is worthy of being appreciated. Getting coffee alone, wearing an outfit that is a little too extra for class, or driving an old car are not impressive highlights of someone’s day. But, by labeling them “kinda chic” they feel more intentional. This trend gave everyday people an outlet to romanticize the parts of their day that overwise felt insignificant.
Maybe this need comes from the fact that “chic” itself has started to feel less tangible. The word traditionally associates with a sort of effortless cool, the kind that is linked to fashion icons, designers and celebrities who seem to embody this idea without even trying. Think Faye Dunaway in “The Eyes of Laura Mars,” Edith Head’s designs in any of her films, or Jackie Kennedy. As the idea of chic has slowly become harder to define, “kinda chic” became the word that anyone could claim. You do not have to be wearing couture or going to New York Fashion Week. You just have to make the decision that something ordinary in your life seems worth celebrating.
Just as quickly as the trend took off, it became equally as oversaturated, with people complaining about its redundancy. A trend originally intent on celebrating individuality became too repetitive...ironic huh? The more people tried to show what made their lives unique, the more their posts began to look exactly the same.
Even the fashion industry has grown tired of the adjective, with British Vogue declaring chic “dead” in Spring of 2025, making the sudden resurgence of the word online even more ironic. Or, it could be, that the timing of “kinda chic” is not ironic at all. If traditional chic is not outdated or impossible to concretely define for most, social media was able to create its own version. One that’s not about looking fashionable, but more about feeling good with whatever you are already doing.
Still, "kinda chic" demonstrates how rapidly social media can turn a word or phrase into a cultural moment. More interestingly, it shows how social media can convert a feeling into a format. What started as a way to celebrate individuality became a way for ordinary moments to feel a little more special.
At the end of the day, while this trend has already started to fade, hopefully its message of finding joy and confidence in everyday life can last beyond this lifespan. But for now, anything you want can be “kinda chic,” just probably not for long.
